DIY Painted Rope Basket

If I haven’t cautioned you about the addictive nature of sewing rope baskets, consider this your official warning. Once you start, you just can’t stop. All it takes is a foot on the pedal, and a hand to guide the rope through the sewing machine, to have a simple, yet chic, bag take shape. It’s a very satisfying experience which is why I have umpteen rope bags and baskets piled up in a corner of my office. So one night, as I was about to sit down to a glass of wine and an evening of Netflix, I suddenly had the urge to paint. But paint what? Baskets! An entire season of Stranger Things later, I had a trio of painted baskets with brightly hued patterns. And as expected, I can’t stop . . .

You’ll need:

rope basket (tutorial found here)

assorted acrylic paint

1/4″ flat paint brush

Sew a rope basket using this tutorial and instead of stitching it with colored thread, use white or cream colored thread. When you’re ready to paint, squeeze large dollops of colored acrylic paint onto a disposable plate. Use a 1/4″ flat brush, to apply paint and create a pattern.

It helps to mix a bit of water into the paint to thin in out, making it easier to apply onto the textured rope. Paint horizontally, along the rope and then vertically to get in between the creases.

I like starting by creating a single motif and then repeating it on the left and right of the original motif.

Then go across the basket, centering the opposing motif and working left and right. Eventually your opposing patterns will meet, making the overall basket look symmetrical.

Don’t worry about it being too perfect or if you make a mistake. Nobody will really be able to tell. Trust me!

Use them to hold plants, skeins of yarn, throws, etc. If you decide to put plants in your rope baskets, make sure they drain of water completely before inserting the planter into the basket.

(images by HonestlyWTF)
source: honestlywtf.com by Erica

Popular posts from this blog

Mexico holds a special place in my heart. I associate it with love, as it’s where Abrahm and I were married nearly seven years ago, and beauty, as its storied craftsmanship and diverse cuisine excites and inspires me each time I visit. So when Etsy asked me to create a holiday themed tablescape, in time for Thanksgiving, Mexico immediately came to mind. My favorite destination on my favorite holiday! Win, win. With authentic Mexican pottery, rich leather details and paper goods, all sourced from Etsy, I put together a fall-themed spread that was ready for a Mexican inspired feast. Below are some tips on how to recreate this beautiful tablescape at home:

Headed to a Friendsgiving this year? Get ready to be the most popular person at the table - we’re showing you how to whip up a fancy AF Gnocchi Mac + Cheese. This side dish is loaded with THREE kinds of cheese and will make every carb lover give thanks. Read on for the recipe! Ingredients: 5 cups fresh potato gnocchi (we used 3 12-ounce packages)10 Tablespoons salted butter1/3 cup all-purpose flour2 cups whole milk1 cup heavy whipping creamthymesalt and pepper, to taste1 1/2 cups grated gruyere cheese1 1/2 cups grated fontina cheese2 cups grated Parmesan cheese1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbsfresh fruit

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Cook gnocchi for 1-2 minutes, just until they float to the top of the pot. Drain and set aside. 2. Heat 6 tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add whole milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly. Stir in a few sprigs of thyme …